This study tests the Function Spiral Model, which proposes that functional decline often occurs prematurely: negative aging attitudes reduce activity engagement, which then advances functional decline via physical deconditioning. A total of 89 adults aged 61–96 (M = 77) years completed a questionnaire assessing aging attitudes and physical activity and participated in a follow-up assessment of gait/balance and function. Results supported the process model: physical activity mediated the impact of negative aging attitudes on gait/balance, and gait/balance mediated the impact of physical activity on function. Findings highlight multiple points of intervention that could mitigate the acceleration of functional decline in later life.
AlbertSMBear-LehmanJAndersonSJ (2015) Declines in mobility and changes in performance in the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living among mild disabled community-dwelling older adults. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences70: 71–77.
2.
BaronRMKennyDA (1986) The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology51(6): 1173–1182.
3.
BrownCJRothDLAllmanRM, et al. (2009) Trajectories of life-space mobility after hospitalization. Annals of Internal Medicine150: 372–378.
4.
ChipperfieldJG (2008) Everyday physical activity as a predictor of late-life mortality. The Gerontologist48: 349–357.
5.
De BoerCPelJJMVanderSteenJ, et al. (2015) Delays in manual reaching are associated with impaired functional abilities in early dementia patients. Dementia40: 63–71.
6.
DeshpandeNMetterEJLauretaniF, et al. (2008) Activity restriction induced by fear of falling and objective and subjective measures of physical function: A prospective cohort study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society56: 615–620.
7.
Dever FitzgeraldTGHadjistavropoulosTMacNabYC (2009) Caregiver fear of falling and functional ability among seniors residing in long-term care facilities. Gerontology55: 460–467.
8.
FjordsideSMorvilleA (2016) Factors influencing older people’s experiences of participation in autonomous decisions concerning their daily care in their own homes: A review of the literature. International Journal of Older People Nursing11: 284–297.
9.
GuoGPhillipsLR (2010) Conceptualization and nursing implications of self-imposed activity limitation among community-dwelling elders. Public Health Nursing27: 353–361.
10.
IwashynaTJ (2012) Trajectories of recovery and dysfunction after acute illness, with implications for clinical trial design. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine186: 302–304.
11.
LawtonMPBrodyEM (1969) Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. The Gerontologist9: 179–186.
12.
LevyBRMyersLM (2004) Preventive health behaviors influenced by self-perceptions of aging. Preventive Medicine39: 625–629.
13.
LiangJBollenKA (1983) The structure of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale: A reinterpretation. Journal of Gerontology, 38(2), 181–189.
14.
Maden-WilkinsonTMMcPheeJSJonesDA, et al. (2015) Age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and power and their association with mobility in recreationally-active older adults in the United Kingdom. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity23: 352–360.
15.
MathiasSNayakUSIsaacsB (1986) Balance in elderly patients: The “get-up and go” test. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation67: 387–389.
16.
MoltonIRHirshATSmithAE, et al. (2014) Age and the role of restricted activities in adjustment to disability-related pain. Journal of Health Psychology19: 1025–1034.
17.
PreacherKJHayesAF (2004) SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers36: 717–731.
18.
ResnickBGalikEGruber-BaldiniA, et al. (2011) Testing the effect of function-focused care in assisted living. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society59: 2233–2240.
19.
RobertsonDASavvaGMKing-KallimanisBL, et al. (2015) Negative perceptions of aging and decline in walking speed: A self-fulfilling prophecy. PLoS ONE10(4): 1–17.
20.
Sargent-CoxKAAnsteyKJLuszczMA (2012) The relationship between change in self-perceptions of aging and physical functioning in older adults. Psychology and Aging27: 750–760.
21.
SarkisianCAProhaskaTRWongMD, et al. (2005) The relationship between expectations for aging and physical activity among older adults. Journal of General Internal Medicine20: 911–915.
22.
SealsDRJusticeJNLaRoccaTJ (2016) Physiological geroscience: Targeting function to increase healthspan and achieve optimal longevity. The Journal of Physiology594(8): 2001–2024.
23.
StudenskiSPereraSPatelK, et al. (2009) Gait speed and survival in older adults. Journal of the American Medical Association305: 50–58.
24.
SwiftHJAbramsDLamontRA, et al. (2017) The risks of ageism model: How ageism and negative attitudes toward age can be a barrier to active aging. Social Issues and Policy Review11: 195–231.
25.
WhiteheadBR (2016) Health behaviors in older adults: Considering age, affect, and attitudes. Journal of Health Psychology. Epub ahead of print 29 February. DOI: 10.1177/1359105316631814.
26.
WolffJKWarnerLMZiegelmannJP, et al. (2014) What do targeting positive views on ageing add to a physical activity intervention in older adults? Results from a randomized controlled trial. Psychology & Health29: 915–932.
